McCrory, who represents the 7th House District, which includes portions of Hartford's North End and Asylum Hill neighborhoods, defeated Donna Thompson-Daniel by a wide margin Tuesday, according to unofficial numbers provided by McCrory's campaign. McCrory said he received nearly 600 votes more than Thompson-Daniel.

"Am I surprised? No, not all," McCrory said Tuesday night. "My community and I have a reciprocal relationship. I love them and they love me. I work hard for them and they work hard for me."

Thompson-Daniel said she will challenge McCrory in November as a petitioning candidate. There is currently no Republican challenger.

"I've learned a lot," she said Tuesday. "It's been a fun ride and I truly have learned a lot about politics in the City of Hartford."

McCrory and Thompson are both members of the city's Democratic town committee. McCrory in May won the party's endorsement, barely eking out a win over Thompson-Daniel. The town committee voted 8-7, with one abstention, in favor of backing McCrory.

McCrory has said the close vote was due to a town committee shakeup. In March, 14 challengers in the 7th District — including Thompson-Daniel — beat out a slate of mostly incumbents to win seats on the committee. Although McCrory was on the losing slate, he received enough votes to secure a spot.

Some of the newly elected town committee members rallied behind Thompson-Daniel.

McCrory said that while he received a few unfavorable comments from constituents during his campaign, the overwhelming response was positive.

"We've been out knocking on doors, been on the phones," he said. "This isn't my first rodeo. I've been down this road before." McCrory was challenged in 2010 by then-city Councilwoman rJo Winch, also a Democrat.

"Like everything else, [residents] want you to do more and expect you to do more," he said. "The most important thing I bring is experience. I'm in a position where you can actually deliver for your community, and I do that."

Thompson-Daniel said she would continue to serve her community. She said she was proud of her campaign.

"I always respond to anything they ask for," she said of residents. "They call me and ask me to get something done for them and whatever they need I respond to it. When I visited people, they were very receptive. It's been a wonderful experience and I would love to do this again."

The 2014 governor's race hinged largely on which of two unpopular candidates managed to make himself less disliked than the other, each trying to get voters to overcome negative opinions, swallow hard and vote for him.

HARTFORD — Incumbent Democrat Denise Nappier declared victory Wednesday afternoon in the extremely close race for state treasurer against Republican challenger Tim Herbst, issuing a statement saying she is grateful for the support that led to her fifth, four-year term.

Incumbent state Comptroller Kevin Lembo, a Democrat, declared a re-election victory just before midnight Tuesday in a surprisingly stiff challenge from Republican Sharon McLaughlin, a church treasurer who did not concede.